An Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera, he was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century. This opera in three acts, is based on Lord Byron's poem The Corsair. This soprano aria is from the second scene of Act 1, and is sung by Medora. She is anxious for Corrado's return, and picks up her harp to sing a beautiful, but vaguely sinister aria--some sixth sense seems to be telling her that things are bound to turn out badly (Dark forebodings I cannot banish from my thoughts).